Ballast element



May 25, 1965 M. s. BIRD 3,185,255

BALLAST ELEMENT Filed July 26. 1960 1 5/7701? fl/[Rfi/ll .5- 5/1910 81/ W645i W 17015341174 6: YRFIISS I F770 United States Patent Office 3,185,255 Patented May 25, 1965 3,185,255 BALLAST ELEMENT Merrill S. Bird, 1218 44th St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed July 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,433 Ciaims. (Cl. 188-1) My invention relates to ballast devices and more particularly a ballast element which is comprised substantially of concrete material.

Ballast elements are commonly used on industrial equipment and on many articles of manufacture. These ballast elements are composed primarily of metal castings which are specially formed in the foundry to assume the desired shape. Many times, the metal casting has to be machined after it is formed to provide finished surfaces which will facilitate its adaptation to the apparatus to which it is to be attached. Both the casting and machining operations make the metal ballast element quite expensive when its only function is to give a stabilizing affect to the attached apparatus.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention is to provide a ballast element that is comprised substantially of concrete material, but which will have all the attributes and characteristics of a metal ballast element.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ballast element that is comparable to but more economical, from a material standpoint, than a metal ballast element.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ballast element comprised of concrete material that will not easily be broken, or if broken, will still remain intact.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ballast element substantially comprised of concrete material which will have a finished surface that will not be injurious to the surfaces of other elements coming in contact therewith.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ballast element that can be made without the expensive foundry and machining operations which are normally employed in creating a metal ballast element.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ballast element that does not need to be painted and which will not rust or corrode.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a method of making a ballast element which will unite the concrete forming and plastic coating operations.

A still further object of my device is to provide a ballast element substantially comprised of concrete but which has a weight factor much heavier than normal concrete.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ballast element that is durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements,

and combination, of the various parts of the device, Where-.

by the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my device mounted in a supporting channel of a washing machine apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of my device taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of my device as viewed on line 33 of FIG. 1 with the channel being removed therefrom.

I have used the numeral to generally designate a steel channel member which may be a part of a washing machine chassis or other device which is subjected to vibrating forces and which has need of a ballast element. Threaded bolts 12 can extend laterally inwardly through appropriate holes in one of the vertical side flanges 14 of channel 10.

has iron ore aggregate added thereto.

The numeral 16 generally designates a hollow plastic container whose outside dimensions should conform to the desired shape of the ballast element. Container 16 may be comprised of vertical side walls 18 and 20, vertical end walls 22 and 24, a sloping portion 26, and an indented bottom portion 28 having an elongated recess 30. An opening 31 should be formed in the topmost portion of the container 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Container 16 can be comprised of a variety of plastics but it is preferred that the plastic have some characteristics of resiliency rather than being of a brittle nature.

The container 16 is filled with a moist concrete material 32 which, in addition to the usual concrete ingredients, These iron ore particles 34 are preferably a type of iron ore known as hematite which is an oxidized ore which will not rust or corrode, even in the presence of moisture. Whereas concrete has a specific gravity of approximately 2.6, the iron ore has a specific gravity of 4.2. Thus, by adding particles 34 of the ore to the normal concrete mixture, the weight of the concrete per cubic foot can be increased from a normal expectancy of pounds to over 200 pounds, if desired, without adversely affecting the quality of the concrete. The concrete material 32 is permitted to harden within container 16, and a plastic lid 36 can then be placed over the opening 31 by a suitable adhesive if desired, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The machining operations on metal ballast elements are eliminated with my device for container 16 can be formed to perfect predetermined dimensions with perfectly smooth and true exterior surfaces. The expensive and cumbersome foundry operation in the construction of metal ballast elements is also eliminated because thousands of perfect plastic containers can be easily made from one set of original dies.

The placing of a concrete casting in channel 10 would invite the fracture of the lower portion thereof when bolts 12 were tightened thereagainst. However, the presence of the plastic container 16 on the outside of the concrete material 32 helps to prevent this fracture from occurring as bolts 12 are tightened into recess 30. Furthermore, if a fracture of the lower portion of the concrete in the bottom portion 28 of the container 16 did occur, the container would hold the broken portions of concrete intact and the weight of the unit would still be preserved for ballast purposes.

The container 16 can be made in different colors to eliminate painting thereof, and the oxidized ore particles prevent any rust from accumulating even though moisture does gain access to the hardened concrete. By substituting my concrete material for the more expensive steel or cast iron, and by eliminating the foundry, machining and painting ope-rations that metal ballast elements require, my lballast element is at least 40 percent less expensive to produce than if made of metal. Obviously, my combination of a plastic container with a concrete filler could assume many different shapes without departing from the inventive concepts here involved. It is appreciated that a plastic piece could be glued on the concrete after it was formed, or that plastic substance could be sprayed thereon after it was formed, but my method of construct-ion, namely, (1) to form the container, (2) to insert moist concrete into the container, and (3) to allow the concrete to harden within the container, unites the concrete forming and plastic coating concepts and is, therefore, a much preferred method of fabrication.

Therefore, in view of the above, it is seen that my device will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my ballast element and method for making Same without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my permanent shape, and a hardened concrete substance in said container.

2. In combination with a machine having moving parts wherein the operation of the machine induces vibrations within the machine, a support structure, a ballast element adapted to .be adjustably secured to said support structure, said support structure having at least one adjustable securing means for engagement with said ballast element, said ballast element comprising a container formed of 'plastic material containing a hardenedconcrete material,

and a container wall being positioned between said securing means and said hardened concrete, said securing means adapted to bear against said ballast element to such an extent that relative movement .therebetween is prevented.

3. In combination with a machine having movable components wherein the operation thereof will induce vibration within said machine, a ballast element including a container, said container. being comprised entirely of plastic material, means on said machine engaging said plastic container for securing said ballast element to said machine, said container being of continuous unitary construction, said container formed into a predetermined permanent shape and having a single access opening, and

a hardened concrete substance in said container, said ac- .cess opening being smaller in area than the largest crosssectional area of said container whereby said hardened concrete is permanently encased within said container.

4. In combination with a machine having movable components wherein the operation thereof will induce vibration within said machine, a ballast element including a container, said container being comprised entirely of plastic material, means on said machine engaging said plastic container for securing said ballast element to said machine, said container being of continuous unitary construction, said container formed into a predetermined permanent shape, a hardened concrete substance in said container, and said hardened concrete substance including an aggregate of metallic particles.

5. In combination :with a machine having movable components wherein the operation thereof will induce vibration within said machine, a ballast element including a container, said container being comprised entirely of plastic material, means on said machine engaging said plastic container for securing said ballast element to said machine, said container being of continuous unitary construction, said container formed into a predetermined shape, a hardened concrete substance in said container and said container being sufficiently rigid to support its permanent shape independently of said concrete substance.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 64,976 5/ 67 Harvey 16-217 989,958 4/11 Frahm 1881 1,753,776 4/30 De Vilbiss 50103 X 2,250,107 7/41 Nelles 50464 X 2,649,644 8/53 Lager 50-94 X 2,677,165 5/54 Copenhaver et a1. 1847 2,711,786 6/55 Weiss 50268 2,838,137 6/58 Wallerstein 1881 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,090,631 of 1954 France.

436,287 7 of 1935 Great Britain. 671,813 5/52 Great Britain. 758,868 of 1956 Great Britain.

ARTHUR L. 'LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSI-IAKE, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MACHINE HAVING MOVABLE COMPONENTS WHEREIN THE OPERATION THEREOF WILL INDUCE VIBRATION WITHIN SAID MACHINE, A BALLAST ELEMENT INCLUDING A CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER BEING COMPRISED ENTIRELY OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, MEANS ON SAID MACHINE ENGAGING SAID PLASTIC CONTAINET FOR SECURING SAID BALLAST ELEMENT TO SAID MACHINE, SAID CONTAINER BEING OF CONTINUOUS UNITARY CONSTRUCTION, SAID CONTAINER FORMED INTO A PREDETERMINED PERMANENT SHAPE, AND A HARDENED CONCRETE SUBSTANCE IN SAID CONTAINER. 